Braiding machine



July 31, 1934. w. w. BARDSLEY BRAIDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 5, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet l y w w. w. BARDSLEY BRAIDING MACHINE Filed Jan. s, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 zit-mag yz/ r July 31, 1934. w, w. BARDSL-EY BRAIDING MACHINE 5 Shets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 3, 1933 July 31, 1934. w; w. BARDSLEY 1,968,240

BRAIDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 3, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 July 31, 1934.

w. w. BARDSLEY 1,968,240

BRAIDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 3, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented July 31, 1934 BRAIDENG MACHINE Willard W. Bardsley, Providence, R. I., assignor to Wardwell Braiding Machine Company, Central Falls, R. 1., a, corporation of Maine Application January 3, 1933, Serial No. 649,790

15 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in braiding machines for producing tubular braids such as used for sleeving, for reinforcing rubber hose or for covering wire and like electrical condoctors. More particularly, the invention consists in a strand manipulator and braid-softener, so-called, for controlling the disposition of the braided strands to form a relatively loosely braided fabric.

One object of the invention is to provide means fo'r'controllin-g the disposition of the strands as they merge in the fabric being braided.

Another object of the invention is to provide control means which act to maintain the braiding angle of the strands substantially constant to produce a more uniform braid.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for raising or lifting the braiding strands at intervals during their passage into the fabric toprevent them from catching and dragging at the crossing points to impose undue tension thereon.

Another object'of the invention is to provide in a machine of the type specified a central mandrel or'fornier around which the strands are braided in relatively tight formation and the tubular braid thereafter pushed off either in the form of sleeving or as a braided covering which is loose on its core.

Another object of the invention is to provide a strand-controlling and braid-softening device of simple construction, proof against derangement or getting out of order and which may be easily applied to machines already in use without inaterial change in the construction thereof.

Further objects of the improvement are set forth in the following specification which describes a preferred embodiment of the invention, by way of example, as illustrated by the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

1 is a front elevation of a braiding machine embodying the improved features of the present invention;

Fig. '2 is a vertical se'ctionalview through the central turret of the machine and illustrating the strand-controllingor beater elements in depressed position;

rig. 3 is a similar sectional view showing the beater device in raised position at the completion of the stroke to lift the strands;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan View of the central turret of the braiding machine shown with a portion of its cap or cover broken away to illuscrate the mechanism enclomd therein;

Fig. :5 is a plan view of "the driving means forthe beater, part-sectional on line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a detailed view of one of the cams for operating the beater;

Fig. 7 is a side View of the braid-softener and beater Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the beater dome and softener mandrel shown in disassembled relationship Fig. 9 is a perspective View of the annular sta tionary strand support with which the beater parts cooperate; and

Figs. 10, 11, 12 and 13 are plan views showing the relationship of the crossing strands as they lead to the braid and illustrating the manner in which their crossing points are periodically shifted by means of the vibrating beater device.

The invention is herein shown as applied to a machine of the type described and illustrated in United States Letters Patent No. 1,602,442, dated October 12, 1926, wherein two sets of yarn-supplies are arranged in tiers and revolved in opposite directions about the axis of the machine. The strands of yarn from the supplies of the upper tier lead directly to the braiding point and the strands from the lower supplies are caused to pass over and under the supplies of the upper set to perform the braiding operation. It is to be understood, however, that the present improvements may be applied to other forms of braiding or like machines.

Referring first to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the braiding machine as herein shown is mounted upon a frame 2 supported from the floor by legs 3 and comprises oppositely rotating heads 4 and 5 carrying upper and lower supply-carriers 6 and '7. The carriers 6 and '7 carry the supplypackages P and P from which the yarn, thread or other strand material feeds upwardly to the braiding point of the machine. 'The upper packages P are arranged circumferentially of the head 4 with their axes inclined toward the vertical axis of the machine and the strands :1 drawing off from the supplies pass through tension-devices, indicated generally by the reference character l0, and thence lead to the braiding point to be enmeshed in the braid. The lower packages 'P' are supported on the carriers or brackets '7 spaced about the head 5 with their axes arranged substantially at right-angles to the axes of the upper packages P. The strands y from the packages P" pass through tension-devices 11 and thence draw upwardly to the fabric being braided. During the revolution of the supplies in opposite directions about the axis of the the strands from the lower packages P are caused to pass over and under the upper carriers 6 by the operation of means as shown and described in the patent above referred to. The machine is driven from a shaft 12 journaled in a bracket 13 at one side of the frame 2 and carrying a pulley 14 which may be belted to a motor or other suitable source of power. The inner endof the shaft 12 is connected to drive the heads 4 and 5 through the means of gearing in the manner as illustrated in the prior patent before referred to.

In braiding machines of the type herein illustrated the core w upon which the covering is braided, or in other cases the tubular fabric itself, is fed through the machine by means of a take-up reel or capstan 15. The capstan 15 is journaled on a stud-shaft 16 fast in a crossstrut 17 extending diagonally across the top of the machine and supported by uprights or standards i8 rising from the frame 2. The capstan 15 is driven from the machine by means of gearing as next described. A pinion-gear 19 on the machine drive-shaft 12 meshes with a larger gear 20 fast on a shaft 21 which is journaled in the bearing bracket 13. Keyed to the end of the shaft 21 is a gear 22 which meshes with a similar gear 23 connected to a sprocket 24. The sprocket 24 is connected by a chain 25 to drive a sprocket 26 fast on a shaft 27 which is journaled in a bearing 28. Keyed to the opposite end of the shaft 27 is a change-gear 29 which meshes with a larger change-gear 30 on a shaft 31. The

hub of the gear 30 carries a sprocket 32 which is connected by a chain 33 to drive a sprocket 34 fast on the end of an upper shaft 35.

17. At its opposite end the shaft 35 carries a small pinion gear 36 which meshes with a ring gear 37 on the side of the rim'of the capstan 15.-

It will be understood that through the gear train and chain connections above described the capstan 15 is driven from the drive-shaft 12 at a reduced rate of speed to take up the braided product which is fed therefrom to a wind-up reel, not shown, in accordance with the usual arrangement. The rate of feed of the braided material is governed by the speed of revolution of the braiding carriers, the diameter of the coreand the size of yarn being braided to produce a fabric having the required number of picks or crosses per inch. To vary the feed the speed of the capstan may be altered by substituting gears of different ratio for the change-gears 29 and 30.

The operation of the machine is manually con-.

trolled by means of a starting handle 38 connected to a shipper-arm 39 for operating a clutch, in-

dicated generally at 40 in Fig. 1.- The clutch 40 connects the pulley 14 rotatively with the shaft 12 to drive the heads 4 and 5 which revolve the supply-carriers 6 and 7 in their orbits. Suitable stopping mechanism is usually provided for arresting the operation of the machine when a strand breaks'or its supply is exhausted, such a form of mechanism being shown and described in United States Letters Patent No. 1,085,369, dated January 27, 1914.

The strand-manipulator and braid-softener of the present invention is organized with the braid' ing machine in the manner as next described.

which the heads 4 and 5 rotate.

The shaft 35 is journaled in a bearing in the cross-strut by screws 45. Held fast within the bore of the bushing 43 is a tubular sleeve 46 extending upwardly therefrom to support a tubular mandrel or former 50 which serves as an element of the braid-softener.

The forming mandrel 50 about which the strands. are enmeshed or braided takes the form of a nozzle-shaped tube having a lower enlarged base 51 which is exteriorly threaded to screw into the upper interiorly threaded end of the sleeve 46. The upper shank portion 52 of the mandrel 50 has its periphery tapered to adapt the tubular fabric to slide off from its end after the strands are braided therearoun d. The base of the mandrel 50 has its axial bore flared outwardly at the bottom to form a bell-shaped mouth for facilitat ing the threading of the core to through the tubular shank 52 in preparing the machine for operation. 7 The shank 52 of the mandrel 50 is shouldered at 55 to form an enlarged cylindrical bearing 54 below its tapered portion. A plurality of grooves 53 are formed in the cylindrical portion 54 of the mandrel 50 to provide keyways for a reciprocable dome 82 to be later described. Referring to Figs. 7 and 8, the mandrel 50 as herein shown is adapted to accommodate a core of circular cross-section and of relatively smalldiameter but in other cases it may be much larger and take different forms. For example, when a r ec-' tangular, elliptical or polygonal core is to be covered a mandrel having similarly formed outer and inner contours may be provided.

Surrounding the upper end of the sleever46 is a bushing 57 formed with a circumferential flange 58 at its lower end which rests upon the flange 44 i of the bushing 43. The bushing 57 is slitted circumferentially at 56 and split longitudinally on one side as shown at 59 in Figs. 2 and 5 to provide a resilient section adapted to be clamped tightlyaround the sleeve 46 by means to be later described. Rotatably mounted on the bushing 57 and abutting its bottom flange 58 is a gear 60 having an annular rim formed with beveled teeth. The gear 60 constitutes the driving element for actuating the'beater mechanism in the manner i as later explained. The gear 60 is formedwith a radial arm 61 adapted to engage-with the side of a stud 63 projecting upwardly from the turretlike top of the head 4 whereby the gear is rotated by and with the head. The stud 63 projects up Clamped around the bushing 57 above the annular gear 60 is a spider-member .68 formed with a pluralityv of arms 69 radiating from a central hub 70, see Fig.;4.-- The hub .70 is split at 71 and provided with ears 72 through which extendsa binding screw 73.

latter in turn contracts the split section of the bushing around the inner sleeve 46 In this manner the bushing 57 and spider-member 68 are secured fast to the inner sleeve 46 which is 'sta-.

tionary with the post 42. The ends of the radial arms 69 of the spider-member 68 are recessed at 74 to provide seats for engagement with an an nular shouldered seat 75 on the inside of a cap 76 which is supported thereon above the top of theturret on the head 4; The cap 76 serves as a cover for enclosing the operating elements of the heater and is provided with an upwardly projecting ring 1 A nut 65 on the stud 63se- The screw 73 serves to clamp, the spider-member 68 to the bushing 57 and theor annulus 77 fitted to an interior seat '78 therein. The upper rim of the ring 7'7 is rounded on its edges to provide a smooth rest or support for the strands of yarn as they draw thereacross in feeding to the braid.

Supported from the spider-member 6'8 isa. second inner ring or annular rest for the strands consisting in a cylinder '79 formed with depending legs 80 as shown in detail in Fig. 9. The legs of the annulus '79 are fastened to an upper vertical flange-portion 81 of the spider-member 68 by, means of screws 83, see Fig. 2. The upper rim of the annulus 79 is positioned slightly above the top of the outer ring or annulus 77 on the cap '16 as defined by the inclination of the strands leading thereacross to the braiding point.

The strands drawing across the fixed rings or annuli 7'7 and 79 in feeding to the braiding point cross and recross each other in pairs as the yarns y from the lower supplies are deflected over and under the yarns y from the upper set of supplies by the braiding action. As the crossing points of the strands approach the rim of the outer annulus '77, and likewise that of the inner annulus '79, in passing into the braid the crosses tend to catch on the rings to impede their progress intorthe' braid. This will result in a drag which augments the tension on the strands to draw them tighter and cause irregularities in the braided fabric. In such conditions, as the crosses are finally released to slide over the rings the tension on the strands will be suddenly relieved to further disturb the uniformity of the braid. It is one object of the present invention to preserve the uniformity of the braided fabric by preventing the crosses in the strands from catching or being impeded as they pass into the braid and for this purpose a reciprocating heater is provided to pcriodically lift the strands off from their rests or supports to free the crosses so that their passage into the fabric will be unhindered.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2, 3 and 7, the beater device 84 as embodied in the present machine comprises essentially a vertically reciprocable ring or annulus 85 disposed concentrically with and between the outer fixed annulus '77 and the inner fixed annulus 79. The beater 84 is shown in detail in Fig. '7 of the drawings as comprising a cylindrical portion 85 surrounding the inner fixed ring '79 and provided with three depending arms 86, only one of which is shown in the drawings, by means of which it is reciprocated.

Also forming a part of the beater 84 is an inner annulus or cylindrical shell 87 which surrounds the central sleeve and is adapted to slide up and down thereon. Surmounting or capping the inner annulus or shell 87 is the dome 82,.previously referred to, which is fitted to a reduced seat on the beater and removably secured thereto by means as later described. The top of the dome 82 is of spherical shape projecting above the top or" the ring or annulus '77 and provided at its with a circular aperture 88 through which the forming mandrel projects. The rim of the aperture 38 in the dome 82 is formed with teeth or prongs 90 projecting radially into the grooves 53 in the mandrel 50 whereby to key the dome thereto to prevent it from rotating therearound. Preferably, the upper surface of the demo 8?. is

r scored with a series of concentric grooves 91, thus providing that the strands drawing thereacross to the braid are relieved of frictional contact with the full surface of the dome.

The lower cylindrical skirt of thedome 82 is formed with a bayonet-slot 95, as illustrated most clearly in Fig. 8 of the drawings, and in the lower edge of the lateral portion of the slot 95 is an arcuately shaped depression or notch 96. A stud 97 riveted through the annular shell 87 of the beater 84 projects radially therefrom for engagement with the bayoneteslot 95 in the skirt of the dome 82. It will be noted that the lateral portion of the slot 95 is tapered and by turning the dome in clockwise direction the stud 97 is caused to slide into the narrower portion of the slot to force it into the depression or notch 96. A spanner wrench may be used for turning the dome, being provided with prongs for engaging holes 99 in the sides of the dome. In this way the dome 82 may be attached to the beater after the latter is in place while providing for its convenient removal therefrom when occasion requires. It is further noted that since the dome 821's keyed to the mandrel 50 by the prongs 90 engaging the grooves 53 in the latter, the. mandrel will be turned with the dome in securing the latter in position and consequently the threaded base of the mandrel is not seated before the dome is applied to position.

The arms 86 depending from the beater 85 are bowed outwardly and then extended downwardly to slide in vertical slots 100 in the hub of the spider-member 68, see Figs. 2 and 3. Riveted through the lower end of each arm 86 is a shoulderecl stud 101 which serves as a journal for a bowl or roller 102. The rollers 102 journaled on the arms 36 are engaged with undulating cam-grooves 104- in three disks 105, see Figs. 5 and 6, carried by the spider-member 68. The cam-disks 105 have hubs secured rotatively to inner sleeves 106 by means of keys 107 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The sleeves 106 are journaled on pins 108 projecting from radial bosses 109 on the sides of the hub of the spider-member 68 and secured in the bosses by cross-pins 110. Washers 111 are held against the outer ends of the hubs of the camdisks 105 by means of cotter pins 112 engaged in holes in the ends of the journal pins 108. The sleeves 106 project axially from the sides of the cam-disks 105 to abut the ends of the bosses 109 and take the form of beveled pinions having teeth on their peripheries engaging the teeth of the driving gear 60. Through these connections the cam-disks 105 are rotated from the turning movement. of the gear with the head 4 and the camgrooves 104 arethereby caused to reciprocate the beater with a relatively rapid oscillating motion as the heads 4 and '5 revolve in opposite directions about the axis of the machine.

The method of operation of the complete machineis as next explained. To prepare the braider foroperation a mandrel 50 of suitable form and size is selected and applied to the top of the machine by screwing its base 51 into the end of the sleeve 46 until its shouldered portion brings up against the top thereof. The mandrel 50 is then turned back in the reverse direction approximately two full turns and the dome 82 placed over its end and slid downwardly thereon with its prongs 90 engaging the grooves 53. As the dome 82 is slid downwardly the stud 97 on the beater 84: is entered into the vertical portion of the bayonet-slot 95 and by manually turning the dome the stud is caused to slide into the lateral portion of the slot to engage with the notch 96 to lock the parts in connection.

7 When a core such as a wire, represented in the drawings at w, is to be covered with braid, or in other cases when the braided covering is to be applied to a rubber tube or hose pipe, the core is led upwardly from its supply reel,.not herein shown and passed through the axial opening of the machine and the bore of the 'mandrel50 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The leading end of .the wire 20 or other core" is then passed around the rim of the take-up wheel or capstan 15 to cause it to be fed through the machine when the braid ing operation is started.

The supply-packages P and P of yarn, thread, cord or other strand material are applied to the upper and lower carriers 6 and 7 and the strands y and y drawn off therefrom and passed through the tension-devices 10 and 11 to lead to the braiding point above the top of the dome 82. The ends of the strands may be fastened to the mandrel or otherwise secured to hold them .until the braiding operation commences.-

To start the braiding operation the handle 38 is manually shifted to clutch the pulley 14 to the- I drive-shaft 12. Through the connections before described the shaft 12 rotates the heads 4 and5 in opposite directions to revolve the supply-pacl ages P and P about the axis 'of the machine. To effect the braiding action the strands y from" the lower supplies are deflected from a normal course to pass them alternately over and under the upper strands y in the prescribed order to form the braid in accordance with the desired pattern. Simultaneously with the turning movement of the heads 4 and 5 the capstan 15 is rotated to feed the core to through the machine and deliver the braided product to a wind-up reel, not herein illustrated. The strandsy-and'y draw across the upper rim of the fixed rings 77 and 79 as they lead to the braiding point which is normally located above the shouldered portion of the forming The strands are enmeshed by the braiding action to form a tubular braid b enclosing mandrel 50.

the mandrel 50 which, as before noted, tapers toward its upper end so that the fabric may. be

readily slid off therefrom. As the mandrel is greater in circumference than the wire or other core to which the fabric b is applied its use results That is to say, while the strands may be braided tightly 'about the mandrel as is required to, secure a in a relatively-loose fabric on the core.

smooth, uniform fabric, when the tubular braid is slipped off from the mandrel it will be relatively.- Likewise, if no core is used;

loose on the core. when the tightly braided tubular fabric is slipped oil from the mandrel it becomes relatively'loose and soft without tendency of the strands to draw together to reduce its size. The feeding ofthe core or the braided tube under the action, of the capstan tends to draw the fabricb off from the mandrel but actually the tubular braid is pushedupwardly to feed it 01f the end ofthe mandrel by the reciprocating action of the dome 82, carried by the beater 84, which is intermittently raised against the strands as they merge into thefabric.

The heater and braid-softener cooperate with the braiding mechanism of the machine in the: manner as next explained. During the rotation of the heads 4 and 5 the gear is driven from the head 4 to effect rotation of the cam-disks 105 at a relatively rapid rate. The cam-disks 105 act through the arms 86 to vertically reciprocate the beater 84 whereby to rapidlyoscillate its ring 85 and the dome 82. The effect of the oscillation of; these parts is to periodically lift the strands from. their supports on the fixed rings '77 and 79, the

purpose being tofree the strands at theircrossing points so as to prevent the crosses. from catching and impeding the progress of the yarns ;into the braid. This action is illustrated more'or less diagrammatically .in Figs. 10 to 13 of the drawings as viewed in connection with Figs. 2 and 3. In Fig. 10, which is a plan view of the operating elements of the beater device, the strands of yarn y and y are shown in position corresponding to their relationship to the parts-as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. That is to say, at this point in the operation of the machine the strands y and rest across the edges of the fixed rings 77 and 79 and those of each pair are crossed at a point outside of the periphery of the outer fixed ring '77. With the strands thus disposed their crosses will tend to catch or drag on the edge of the ring 77 to impede their progress into the fabric. To prevent such a contingency the operation of the beater device is so timed that before the crosses in the yarns reach the location shown in Fig. 10 the beater ring85 starts to rise to the position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. That is to say, as the crosses reach the rim of the-outer fixed ring '77 the beater-ring 85 rises and lifts the several pairs of crossing yarns away from the top of the fixed rings '77 and 79; the dome 82 being also simultaneously raised to lift the'strands at the point where they merge in the braid. Under this action the crosses will advance inwardly to the edge of the beatering 85 as shown in Fig. 11. The beater is now depressed or slid downwardly whereby the strands will again rest on the two fixed rings '77 and Y9, the position of the crosses at this juncture being illustrated,

in Fig. 12 of the diagrammatic views.

It has been explained that the movement of the beater is very rapid and, consequently, before the crossing points of the yarns advance to the edge of the inner fixed ring 79 the beater-ring 85 is'once again moved upwardly to lift the strands away from the ring '79. This action occurs'with the strands related as shown in Fig. 12. After the crossing points of the strands have passed inwardly beyond the fixed ring '79 the beater is depressed once more and finally the crosses rest on the'grooved crown of the dome 82 as indicated in Fig. 13 of the diagrammatic views. At this point in the braiding operation the rapid oscillation of the beater prevents the crosses in the strands from being retarded in their advance to the fabric being braided. The purpose of the grooves 91 on the dome is, as before noted, to relieve the'friction on the strands by providing a I plurality of contact points rather than an extended surface.

During the continuation of the braiding opera tion the beater device'functions as above ex-" ly in synchronism with the braiding action it must be timed accurately with the other going elements of the machine. The timing of the beateris effected by adjusting the angular relationship of the gear 60 with respectto the driving head 4, this adjustment being accomplished by sliding the stud 63 in its slot 64. The closeness or density of the braid is regulated by the size of the yarn and the diameter of the lower portion of the tapered shank 52 of the mandrel 50 where the braiding actiontakes place. The degree of constriction of the braid on the core is governed by the rate of feed of the fabric ofi the mandrel in relation to the rate of feed of the core; it being noted that to render the fabric loose on the core it must be fed from the mandrel ata rate faster than that of the advance of the core. To regulate this characteristic of the braided product the ratio between the speed of rotation of the capstan and the speed of the revolving supplies is adjusted by means of the change-gears 29 and 30. 1

It will be observed from the foregoing that the present invention provides a highly'efiicient, autc matiomachine for fabricating tubular coverings for wire, hose pipes and other cores, or for pro ducing soft-braided sleeving. The mandrel provides a fixed former around which the strands may-be braided under relatively heavy tension whereby to permit high speed operation of the machine to secure a rapid rate of production and a uniformproduct. The operation of the machine may be controlled to produce a tubular fabric having the strands braided uniformly about a central core with any desired degree of looseness or tightness thereon. A loose braid of this nature is of advantage for covering wire or other conductors which are first sheathed with soft insu lating material such as unvulcanized rubber and also for reinforcing hose pipe before its rubber walls are vulcanized. I The present machine has various other uses such, for example, as braiding soft coverings on telephone cords or the like to render them more pliable and for producing tubular braid which may be used as sleeving adapted to numerous purposes.

5 While the invention is herein illustrated and described in a preferred form of construction and as applied to a-particular type of machine, it is to be understood that various modifications may be made in the form and arrangement of the parts of the device and in its application to use without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, without limiting myself in this in; respect, I claim:

1. In a braiding machine, the combination of braiding mechanism, a central support, a forming mandrel projecting axially from said support, an annulus surrounding the mandrel in spaced H relation thereto and reciprocable on the support,

- H tudinally of the mandrel.

2. In a braiding machine, the combination of braiding mechanism, a support arranged axially of the braiding mechanism, a forming mandrel projecting axially from said support, an annular member surrounding the mandrel in spaced relation thereto and reciprocable on said support, a member carried by said annular member in axial relation thereto and provided with a portion surrounding the axial mandrel, and means for reciprocating said annular member longitudinally of its axis.

3. In a braiding machine, the combination of braiding mechanism, a support arranged axially of the braiding mechanism, an annulus carried 1 by said support and disposed to provide a rest for an inner reciprocable rest arranged axially of said annuli, and means for reciprocating the third annulus and the inner rest.

4. In a braiding machine, the combination of braiding mechanism, a central post arranged axially of said mechanism, an annular beater reciprocable axially on said post, a member fast on the-post, a cam journaled on said member to rotate on an axis extending radially thereof, a follower on the beater engaging the cam, a gear on tie cam, and a gear rotatable on the post and meshing with the gear on the cam to rotate the latter.

5. Li a braiding machine, the combination of braiding mechanism, a post arranged axially of themachine, a beater reciprocable longitudinally of the post to periodically engage the strands leading to the braiding point, a follower on said beater, a cam journaled to rotate on anaxis extending radially of the post and'engaging the follower on the beater, a gear on said cam, and a gear driven with the braiding mechanism and meshing with the gear .on the cam to rotate the latter.

6. In a. braiding machine, the combination of means for interlacing strands to form a braid, an axially arranged mandrel around which the strands are braided, a central strand-rest enclosing the mandrel and reciprocable longitudinally thereof, fixed annular rests arranged coneentricallyof the mandrel to adapt the strands to draw thereacross in feeding to the braid, a vibratory annulus arranged concentric with and between the fixed annuli, and means to oscillate the vibratory annulus and the central strand rest to periodically lift the strands away from the fixed annuli.

'7. In a braiding machine, the combination of means for interlacing strands to form a braid, an axially arranged mandrel around which the strands are braided, fixed annular rests arranged concentrically oi. the mandrel to adapt the strands to draw thereacross in feeding to the braid, a vibratory annulus arranged concentric with and between the fixed annuli, means. for oscillating the vibratory annulus to periodically lift the strands from the fixed annuli, and an element movable with the vibratory annulus and surrounding the mandrel to adapt it to periodically engage the strands adjacent the braiding point to force the braided fabric toward the end of the mandrel.

8. In a braiding machine, the combination of two sets of revolving strand supplies, means for interlacing the strands from the supplies to form a tubular braid, a turret arranged axially of the strand supplies, an outer fixed ring supported from the turret to adapt the strands to draw thereacross in feeding to the braid, an inner fixed ring supported from the turret in concentric relation with the outer ring, a reciprocatory ring arranged between and concentric with the fixed rings, means operated synchronously with the braiding action to reciprocate the vibratory ring to periodically raise the strands away from the fixed rings, and a member carried by the vibratory ring with its upper portion surrounding the mandrei to adapt it to be reciprccated therealong to feed the braided fabric off the end of the mandrel.

9. In a braiding machine, the combination of braiding mechanism, a tubular support arranged axially of the braiding mechanism, a forming mandrel projecting axially from said support, an annular beater reciprocable axially with respect to the mandrel, means for reciprocating the beater, a dome mounted on the beater with the mandrel projecting through an opening in its top, said dome formed with a bayonet-slot, and a stud projecting from the beater for engagement with the bayonet-slot in the dome to secure the parts in connected relationship.

10. In a braiding machine, the combination of braiding mechanism, a tubular support arranged axially thereof, a tubular mandrel secured in the end of thertubular support, an annular beater reciprocable longitudinally of the tubular support, a dome-shaped member mounted on the beater with the mandrel projecting through an opening in its top, said dome formed with a bayonet-slot in its skirt with a notch in the lateral portion thereof, a stud projecting from the beater to adapt it to be entered into the bayonet-slot in the dome to engage it with the notch therein, and means for reciprocating the beater to oscillate the dome longitudinally of the mandrel.

11. In a braiding machine, the combination of braiding mechanism, a turret extending axially thereof, a tubular support extending axially of the turret, a ring supported from the turret in position to provide a rest for the strands feeding to the braiding point, a member secured to the inner tubular support, an annulus carried on said member in concentric relation with the outer fixed annulus, a beater surrounding the central tubular support and reciprocable longitudinally thereof, said beater formed with an annulus arranged concentric with the fixed annuli, and means for reciprocating the beater to cause its annular portion to raise the strands off from the fixed annuli to prevent their crosses from dragging thereon to impede their progress into the braid.

12. In a machine of the type specified, the

combination of a hollow mandrel, means for feeding a core through the mandrel at a predetermined rate, means for applying strands around the mandrel to form a tubular covering for the core, and means for forcing the covering 01f from the end of the mandrel at a faster rate than the feed of the corewhereby to apply it to the core without constriction of the strands thereon.

13. In a machine of the type specified, the combination of a hollow mandrel, means for feeding a core through the mandrel at apredetermined rate, means for applying a plurality of strands to the outside of the mandrel to form a covering for the core, and intermittently operated means for pushing the covering off from the end of the mandrel at a faster rate than the feed of the core to apply the covering loosely around the core.

14. In a machine of the type specified, the combination of a tubular mandrel, means for feeding a core through the mandrel at a predetermined rate, means for interlacing strands to form a tubular fabric around the mandrel, and means for pushing the fabric off from the end of the mandrel at a faster rate than the feed of the core whereby to prevent the fabric from constricting the core.

15. In a machine of the type specified, the combination of a tapered forming mandrel having a longitudinal bore, means for feeding a core through the mandrel at a predetermined rate, means for interlacing strands to form a tubular fabric around the mandrel, and means for pushing the core off from the end of the mandrel onto the core at a faster rate than the feed of the latter to prevent constriction of the fabric thereon.

WILLARD W. BARDSLEY. 

